Summary of Learning
• Practitioners were involved within the project from the beginning;
– In the development of the pedagogical charter e.g. creating their
own image of the child and practitioner.
– In researching skills, dispositions and stages of development,
contributing to the Building the Ambition guide.
– Practitioners have been involved in evaluating their practice and
developing next steps and action plans for improvement.
Further information contact: [email protected]
A Building the Ambition Approach to Holistic Learning and Assessment
(Gemma Paterson; Early Years Pedagogue)
Bowhouse Early Learning and Childcare, Falkirk Council
Background/Rationale:– Bowhouse ELC is an early learning and childcare setting within a local authority primary school. As of August 2018, we
are a 56 place,1,140 setting, with a team of 15 including a Senior Early Years Officer, Early Years Officers, ELC Assistants and an Early Years Pedagogue
(Equity and Excellence Lead).
Bowhouse ELC has been on a significant pedagogical journey over the last two years. In 2017, it was evident that the approach to teaching, learning and
assessment was lacking in a child centred, holistic method. Building the Ambition was used as a guide for practitioners in developing an approach which
ensures each child was at the centre of all.
Aim:By December 2018, 100% of children within Bowhouse ELC, will experience high quality early learning and childcare as defined by:
– By December 2018, 100% of practitioners within Bowhouse ELC will scale their level of confidence within the BtA Approach at Level 5.
– By December 2018, 100% of identified practitioners will scale their observational practice at a Level 4 or above.
Innovation to Date
A holistic learning and assessment approach, using Building the Ambition
to highlight the Curriculum for Excellence has been developed within
Bowhouse ELC, since December 2017.
The project has involved a number of key developments, including:
• The development of a pedagogical charter which highlights the
individual pedagogical approach and image of the child within the
setting.
• The development of the 3 areas of Building the Ambition in relation to
skills, stages of development and dispositions, creating a Building the
Ambition working document. (Scan the QR Code to view our Charter and Building the Ambition developments)
Key Achievements to Date
• A pedagogical approach which is consistent for children and their
families has been embedded within the setting.
• A Building the Ambition practitioner guide was developed and is used as
part of our approach to learning, teaching and assessment.
• All practitioners have had the opportunity to share our project more
widely with successful local authority open events being hosted.
Next Steps
Our approach will evolve as
the updated version of
Building the Ambition is released.
Our approach is constantly
developing and looking forwards
we will be developing a
documentation approach
aligned to this.
Supporting Evidence
WellbeingCommunication
Curiosity, Inquiry and Creativity
“We were definitely needing
a change in practice. The
use of Building the Ambition
ensured we delivered a
personalised approach to
early years for children.”
-Early Years Officer
“At Bowhouse we all have an
extremely in-depth knowledge on
the Curriculum for Excellence and
this is evident in our continuous
provision. However I think Building
the Ambition has helped us to think
differently, to take a chance and
think outside the box.”
-Early Years Officer
Practitioners developed their
confidence in using Building the
Ambition as the approach
developed. Practitioners used the
Building the Ambition Scale to
determine their improvement in
practice over the 18 month
development period. (Scan the QR Code
to see our Building the Ambition confidence scale)
Practitioners developed their
observational practice by using
Building the Ambition in
developing a holistic approach to
children’s development.
Practitioners evaluated their own
observations using a scale the
team developed together. (Scan the
QR Code to see Observation scale)
Building the Ambition
Confidence Scale
Observation Scale
Pedagogical Charter and
Building the Ambition